Manhattan Country School seeks an Upper School Director to lead the 5th through 8th grades beginning July 1, 2023.
Manhattan Country School is a pre-K through 8th grade school in New York City that is recognized for its strong academic program, racial and economic diversity, social justice activism, and emphasis on environmental education that features a working farm in the Catskills in Roxbury, New York. Committed to principles of equity and multiculturalism, MCS is unique among New York City independent schools. MCS’s educational philosophy relies on educators who have strong knowledge of child development and can apply it to effective pedagogies of inquiry and learning, enjoy the excitement and curiosity of children, want to help build a community where diverse perspectives are valued, and appreciate the life-long impact of working together for social and environmental justice.
UPPER SCHOOL DIRECTOR ROLE
The next Upper School Director must have a deep passion for middle school education, understand the unique developmental stages of adolescents, and love working with students and supporting teachers in the classroom. The faculty work extraordinarily hard, and with joy, to deliver the School's high ideals for its progressive educational philosophy. The Upper School Director will serve as a member of the leadership team, and as an educational leader for the teaching team, fostering their continued professional development while recruiting new, mission-aligned educators to join in this work.
Together with the Lower School Director, the Upper School Director will strengthen core academic traditions while also enhancing the curriculum. Moreover, the Upper School Director will work across departments to sharpen how MCS conveys the value of a social justice-focused, progressive education to students, families, educators, and friends. The next Upper School Director will have the opportunity to work with a talented team to explore how MCS, a school that began as a radical experiment, forged in the work and words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the basis of educational equity and social justice, can continue to carry its vision forward into 2024 and beyond.
KEYS FOR THE NEXT UPPER SCHOOL DIRECTOR
QUALIFICATIONS
• Expert Middle School Educator
• Proven Administrator and Dedicated Mentor
• Action-Oriented Program Leader
• Inclusive Community Builder
• Anti-Racist
• Skilled Collaborator
• Curricular and Pedagogical Innovator
• Thought Leader
• Inspirational Communicator
• At least 5 years of middle school teaching and administration experience
TRAITS
• Honest
• High Social Intelligence
• Collaborative
• Courageous
• Creative
• Sensible
• Fair
• Humble
• Kind
• Curious
The Upper School director will be responsible for managing a well-established program as well as introducing innovative ideas through an unwavering lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Duties include hiring and evaluation of faculty; curricular planning; maintaining a safe, positive community environment; communication with students, families and other constituencies; prioritizing equity, social justice, and anti-racism; and close collaboration with the Lower School, Admissions, and High School Placement directors, and other members of the leadership team. We hope to interview candidates whose personal qualities include a strong intellectual foundation, a passion for working with experienced and new teachers, appreciation of diversity and democratic communities, an ability to work closely and positively with families, an ability to set priorities and follow through on achieving them, and a sense of humor.
Manhattan Country School is an equal-opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
This position has a salary range of $120,000-$130,000 annually.